National e-Governance Plan in Agriculture (NeGPA)

• Launch
  • Launched in 2010-11 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme in 7 pilot states.
• Ministry
  • Ministry of Agriculture
• Aims
  • Aims to achieve rapid agricultural development through the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) for access to agriculture information by farmers at the right time.
• Expansion
  • The scheme was expanded to all remaining states and 2 Union Territories in 2014-15.

Phase-II

• Site Preparation:
  • office spaces were readied for the installation of hardware and computer training labs were created.
• Procurement and Installation:
  • Procured, installed, and accounted for hardware and system software.
• Power Backup:
  • Arrangements made for backup power where required.
• State Project Management Units (SPMUs):
  • Set up and hired manpower on a contract basis.
• Connectivity:
  • Ensured connectivity for hardware installation locations.
• Data Digitization:
  • Focused on digitizing data and customizing applications based on state/UT-specific requirements.

Emerging Technologies Integration

• DFI Committee Recommendations:
  • Scale up and enhance digital agriculture programs.
  • Focus on high-tech agricultural management using Remote Sensing, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Data Analytics and Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning (AI & ML), Internet of Things (IoT), Robotics, Drones, and Sensors, and Blockchain Technology.

New Initiatives for Agricultural Modernization

• UFSP:
  • A combination of core infrastructure, data, applications, and tools which will ensure smooth interoperability among public and private IT systems of agriculture.
• Farmers’ Database:
  • Create an all-India database of farmers linked with their land records
• Key Objective:
  • Develop an unique Farmer ID, record all the benefits availed by a farmer under schemes, enable proper planning, monitoring, and effective implementation of agriculture schemes.